As we conclude our week-long exploration of Frank Luntz’s “Words That Work,” it’s time to shift our focus from understanding to implementation. Today, we’ll discuss how to integrate the communication principles we’ve learned into your daily life as a City Manager, both professionally and personally.
Recap: The Power of Words
Throughout this week, we’ve covered four key areas:
The importance of context and framing
The power of simplicity in conveying complex ideas
Building trust through consistency and credibility
The role of effective communication in the ABCs of Impactful Leadership
Now, let’s explore how to turn these insights into action.
The ABC Approach to Implementation
Awareness
Communication Audit: Take a week to consciously observe your communication patterns. Note how you frame messages, where you might overcomplicate, and any inconsistencies in your messaging.
Feedback Loop: Create a system for regular feedback from your team, council members, and even family and friends. Ask them about the clarity and consistency of your communication.
Mindfulness Practice: Start each day with a brief mindfulness exercise, focusing on your intention for communication. This can enhance your self-awareness and help you stay present in your interactions.
Balance
Message Alignment: Ensure your communication style and core messages align across all spheres of your life. Practice explaining city initiatives to your family in the same clear, engaging way you would to the city council.
Time Blocking: Allocate specific times for crafting important communications, both for work and personal life. This helps prevent work communications from constantly bleeding into personal time.
Personal Mission Statement: Develop a personal mission statement that encompasses both your professional and personal values. Use this as a touchstone for consistent communication across all areas of your life.
Cultivation
Communication Workshop: Organize a workshop for your team on effective communication principles. This not only improves overall communication but reinforces your commitment to these principles.
Storytelling Bank: Create a collection of stories, analogies, and examples that effectively illustrate key points about your city’s initiatives. Draw from these in your communications to maintain consistency and enhance understanding.
Community Dialogue Sessions: Implement regular, informal sessions where community members can engage in dialogue with city officials. This cultivates a culture of open communication and builds trust.
Practical Steps for Immediate Implementation
Reframe a Current Initiative: Take a current city project and reframe its description using the principles we’ve discussed. Focus on context, simplicity, and connecting it to your overall city vision.
Create a Consistency Checklist: Develop a brief checklist to review before any significant communication, ensuring your message aligns with your core themes and values.
Practice Simplification: Choose a complex city issue and challenge yourself to explain it in three sentences or less. Practice this explanation with people both inside and outside of city government.
Credibility-Building Action Plan: Identify three concrete actions you can take in the next month to enhance your credibility. This could include following up on a long-standing promise, increasing transparency on a controversial issue, or admitting and correcting a mistake.
Communication Integration Exercise: For one week, consciously use the same communication style and principles in both your professional and personal life. Reflect on how this integration impacts your relationships and effectiveness in both spheres.
The Journey Continues
Remember, becoming a master communicator is an ongoing journey. It requires consistent practice, reflection, and refinement. As you implement these strategies, pay attention to what works well and what needs adjustment. Be patient with yourself and celebrate the small wins along the way.
Need help turning these insights into action? Reach out by scheduling a strategy call to explore how our workshops can help you implement these communication strategies throughout your municipality. Whether you’re looking to enhance your personal communication skills or cultivate a culture of effective communication across your entire team, we’re here to support your journey to becoming a more impactful leader.
Your Implementation Plan
What’s one communication strategy from this week that you plan to implement immediately? How do you anticipate it will impact your effectiveness as a leader and your personal relationships?
Share your implementation plan in the comments on my LinkedIn page. Your commitment might inspire fellow City Managers to take action, and your ideas could provide valuable insights for others.
As we conclude this series, I encourage you to continue your growth journey. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Leader’s Lens, and tune in to our podcast for ongoing insights and strategies to enhance your leadership skills.
Remember, your words have the power to shape perceptions, build trust, and drive positive change in your community. Use them wisely, and watch as they transform not just your leadership, but your entire approach to life and work.
Seth Winterhalter is President of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions, dedicated to making stronger cities through stronger leaders. Through executive coaching, consulting, and the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), HaltingWinter helps city managers and municipal leaders transform their leadership impact and their organizational culture.